Edgewood soldier faces child abuse charges

Authorities: Monique Beneke abused 4-year-old stepchild

 EDGEWOOD, Md. —Harford County sheriff's deputies said they are investigating a case of child abuse in which a solider on Aberdeen Proving Ground hit, burned and severely neglected her stepdaughter.
According to court documents, one of four siblings living at a home in the 2000 block of Bayberry Road in Edgewood withstood horrible abuse at the hands of a woman identified as 27-year-old Monique Latrise Beneke.

"Clearly, there are indications this may have been going on for a period of time," Harford County sheriff's spokesman Eddie Hopkins said.

Harford County deputies started investigating after a social worker at Edgewood Elementary School had concerns about Beneke's 4-year-old stepdaughter.

Court documents said two of the victim's siblings told police that Beneke picked her up and dropped her on the ground and was burned with a long, blue lighter on a number of occasions.

The victim also told the same story to police and said she had gotten in trouble for stealing food in the house and was punched in the stomach by Beneke.

Pediatricians who checked the 4-year-old out said she was malnourished, weighing only 28.6 pounds with a body mass index of less than 5 percent.

"The deputy observed what is believed to be grab marks on child and also reported that child may have been burned. (It) appeared child did have some burn injuries, minor to fingers and hands," Hopkins said.

Beneke told police a different story, that her stepdaughter's injuries were caused by other kids in the house and that she never burned her and didn't keep lighters in the house.

However, a search warrant on Beneke's home revealed some startling revelations. First, authorities found a long, blue lighter like the kids had described, several laundry baskets like the ones the victim described being hit with, and detectives noticed the other children's rooms were clean and decorated nicely, while the victim's room consisted of a urine-soaked bed with containers filled with urine-soaked clothing and nothing else in the room.

Police arrested Beneke and consider her a flight risk.

"The detective most likely saw information suggesting that she could leave the area and made that notation to the court," Hopkins said.

WBAL-TV 11 News has learned the victim's father is still stationed in Hawaii and had no knowledge of the alleged abuse. He is headed back to the area.

Benekey faces charges including first- and second-degree child abuse and first- and second-degree assault. She is being held without bond.